Self-inflating target deployment container

ABSTRACT

A container for deploying a self-inflating target from an aircraft comprising an elongate tubular casing for the target, a nose cap and a weighted tail portion which also serves as an airscoop. Upon release from the aircraft the weighted tail portion orients the container vertically. A valve positioned in the airscoop controls the amount of air entering the target to prevent target ejection and inflation until the falling container and target have decelerated to a safe opening speed.

D United States Patent 1 1 3,561,705

[72] inventor Raymond S. Daughenbaugh 2,382,442 8/1945 Rich et al..244/138 860 S. LaLuna. Ojai, Calif. 93023 3221656 12/1965 Sutten 1244/138 [21 Appl. No. 801,594 3234503 2/1966 Wojcieehowski 244/142 [22]Filed Feb. 24. 1969 3,328,750 6/1967 Gimber et al. 244/142 [45] PatentedFeb. 9. 1971 3.508.724 4/1970 Scher et a1. 244/138(X) PrimaryExaminer-Ge0rge E. A. Halvosa s4 SELF-INFLATING TARGET DEPLOYMENTExamiwqames Pmenger CONTAINER Att0rneysEdgar .l Brower, Q. Baxter Warnerand Gayward 6 Claims, 4 Drawing Figs.

[52] US. Cl 244/138,

ABSTRACT: A container for deploying a self-inflating target [51] Int. Cl364d 1/02 from an aircraft comprising an elongate tubular casing for the[50] Field of Search 244/138, t, a nose cap and a weighted tail portionwhich also serves as an airscoop. Upon release from the aircraft theweighted tail portion orients the container vertically. A valvepositioned [56] References c'ted in the airscoop controls the amount ofair entering the target UNITED STATES PATENT to prevent target ejectionand inflation until the falling con- 1,777,188 9/ 1930 Wiley 244/1 38tainer and target have decelerated to a safe opening speed.

/ --.---:-;z:::z :e.-- 2.12m:

PATENTEU FEB 91971 3,561,705

sum 1 OF 2 Fig.2

PATENTEU m SIB]! 3561; 705

SHEEI 2 OF INVENTOR. RAYMOND s. DAUGHENBAUGH SELF-INFLATING TARGETDEPLOYMENT CONTAINER STATEM ENT OF GOVERNMENT INTEREST The inventiondescribed herein may be manufactured and used by or for the Governmentof the United States of America for governmental purposes without thepayment of any royalties thereon or therefor.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS In a copending application, Ser.No. 801 ,524 filed Feb. 24, 1969, applicant discloses a self-inflatingtarget of the type which may be housed within and deployed from thecontainer of the present invention. While the target of the copendingapplication is not part of the present invention, it has been illustrated in the drawings and mentioned in the description of the preferredembodiment primarily to add clarity and to assure full understanding ofthis invention.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates generally tocontainers and more particularly to containers for housing inflatabletargets which are to be transported by and dropped from aircraft.

Prior art sea targets are usually heavy wood or steel barges which mustbe towed to the selected target areas by ship. Such methods of targetdelivery are slow and impose expensive personnel and equipmentrequirements. These requirements are obviated by the container of thepresent invention when used with a self-inflating sea target.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Briefly the present invention is directed to adevice which renders a self-inflating target droppable from an aircrafttraveling at a relatively high speed. It is a compact storage andlaunching container part of which may be an integral part of thedeployed target. It comprises a tubular casing for storing the deflatedtarget, a removable nose cap mounted on the front of the casing and aweighted airscoop positioned on the rear of the casing. The weight ofthe airscoop properly orients the container upon its release from theaircraft. An airflow control valve is mounted in the airscoop forlimiting the amount of air entering the scoop until the devicedecelerates sufficiently to permit ejection and opening of the targetwithout damage.

STATEMENT OF THE OBJECTS OF INVENTION BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGSFIG. 1 is a side elevational view of the container with portions brokenaway.

FIG. 2 is a slightly enlarged view of the weighted airscoop shown inFIG. 1 but rotated on its longitudinal axis 90.

FIG. 3 is a rear end view of the container taken along line 3-3 of FIG.2.

FIG. 4 (a-f) is a diagrammatic step-by-step illustration of the actionof the container upon airdrop showing how the enclosed target isdeployed.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT FIG. I of the drawingsillustrates the circular target container I0 of the presentinvcntionwhich has a central elongate tubular packing barrel 12 with adetachable nose cap I4 mounted on the forward end and a weightedairscoop 16 located at its rear end. Reference is made to theaforementioned copending application for details of the target housedwithin the container.

The packing barrel I2 is the largest single section of the container I0and provides the main storage area for the enclosed target. It is formedof two identical separable halves I8 and 20 the edges of which abut at22 to form tubular packing barrelv 12. The packing barrel is mated atthe rear through lap joint 24 with the airscoop I6 and at the frontthrough lap joint 26 with the nose cap 14. The latter is detachablylocated at the forward end of the packing barrel so that it can bepushed off by the emerging target and allow the barrel halves toseparate after release of the container 10 from the aircraft.

The hollow airscoop 16 may be in the form of an annulus and is providedwith a central aperture 27 through which air can pass into a targetinflation sleeve 29 when the container is released from an aircraft. Theairscoop may be formed of any suitable material such as sheet metal orplastic and has an outer surface 30 which is turned back upon itself inreentrant fashion to form an inner tubular sleeve 28 to which the targetinflation sleeve 29 may be secured. An annular pocket 25 is formed atthe juncture' of sleeve 28 and ledge 30 and may accommodate a body ofweighted material which may be lead and may be mounted in a plasticcement if desired. Such weight helps to vertically orient the containerwith the airscoop 16 in a forwardly or down position substantiallycoinciding with the trajectory path of its fall after release from anaircraft. Outer surface 30 may be mated to the end of packing barrel 12through a suitable lap joint 24 as shown in FIG. I.

An airflow control valve arrangement may be positioned in sleeve 28 andis adapted to limit the amount of air passing into the target so as toprevent premature target ejection. The valve arrangement comprises apair of flexible valve plates 34 hingedly mounted on a shaft 36 which iscentrally and transversely mounted within the sleeve 28. Both valveplates 34 are normally held in an open position by springs 38 whichconnect each valve plate 34 to an opposed airscoop wall 40 substantiallyas shown in the drawings. An adjustable turnbuckle 39 may be interposedbetween wall 40 and each spring 38 for controlling the tension exertedon valve plate by such spring. Control of such tension permits varyingthe point at which the target is ejected and the container breaks up. Avalve stop rod 42 extends transversely across sleeve 28 at a angle toshaft 36 and is positioned behind the valve plates 34 in order tosuitably position the plates in their closed position. Each valve plateis loosely fitted within the inner wall of sleeve 28 so as toeffectively limit the amount of air flowing into the container when thevalve plates are in the closed position. It will be apparent that ifdesired a suitable spring hinge may also be used to apply openingtension to the valve plates.

A pair of separable holding clamps 44 are positioned around thecontainer 10 at the junctures of the packing barrel 12 with the nose cap14 and the airscoop I6. The clamps function to hold the three parts ofthe container 10, i.e., nose cap 14, packing barrel l2 and airscoop 16in their mated position and also serve as mounts for attachment of thecontainer to a conventional bomb rack. When the container 10 is releasedin the target area, the rings 44 come apart and the container willorient itself with the airscoop l6 directed forwardly along the path oftrajectory due to its greater weight.

While in place on a bomb rack, the valve plates 34 are normally in theopen position. Upon release the heavier rear end of the container causesit to swing around so that the airscoop faces forwardly along thetrajectory path and the ram air pressure then acts upon the plates 34 toclose them and prevent any air ingress into the scoop. However, as thecontainer decelerates to its terminal velocity the ram air pressureagainst the valve plates is reduced and springs 38 can gradually forcethe plates open to allow ram air to enter the airscoop 16 This inflatesthe target which latter then forces off nose cap 14. Thereupon thepacking barrel 12 splits into two halves 18 and 20. The inflatabletarget is now free from containment and the air entering the permanentlyattached airscoop 16 eventually completely fills out the descendingtarget. Upon striking the ocean surface, the weighted airscoop 16 willsink thereby anchoring the target on the ocean surface.

l claim:

1. An air-droppable device for housing a target made of thin flexiblematerial which target is adapted to be inflated by ram air forcedthereinto when dropped through the earths atmosphere comprising:

a container of elongate overall shape formed of a plurality of breakawayparts having interfltting edges;

a weighted airscoop positioned at the aft end of said container with anopening leading into the interior of said target; and

means for orienting the major axis of the container along the path ofthe container trajectory with the weighted airscoop directed forwardlywhen the container is dropped from a moving body; so that said containerbreaks up during its fall to free said target in order that it maybecome fully inflated before impact.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein the container comprises a nose section,a central body section and a tail section, said sections beinginterfitted together and forced off during the disassembly.

3. The device of claim l wherein the airscoop is provided with airflowcontrol means.

4. The device of claim 3 wherein the airflow control means automaticallyresponds to ram air pressure so as to prevent air ingress during periodsof high ram air pressure and to permit air ingress during periods of lowram air pressure.

5. The device of claim 4 wherein the airflow control means if adjustableto vary the point at-which air ingress is permitted.

6. The method of erecting a collapsible target at a remote sitecomprising the steps of:

collapsing said target into a small bundle;

encapsulating said bundle within a breakaway container.

said container having a weighted airscoop positioned at the aft endthereof with an opening leading into the interi or of said target;transporting said container to a position above said site; releasingsaid container on a trajectory path directed toward said site, whereuponthe container will become oriented with the airscoop directed forwardly;

decelerating said container to its normal terminal-velocity at freefall; and

decapsulated said collapsed target when such normal ter' minal velocityis reached, so that the collapsed target may fully expand to its normalshape before impact at the tar get site.

Patent NO- 3 a Dated February 9 Inventor(s) Raymond s ugh it iscertified that error appears in the above-identified patent and thatsaid Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Column 4 line 9 "if" should read is Signed and sealed his 7th day ofMarch 1972 (SEAL) Attest:

EDWARD M.FLETCHER,JR. ROBERT GOTTSCHALK Attesting Officer Commissionerof Pa FORM PO-10 (10-69) useomm-oc cos.

1. An air-droppable device for housing a target made of thin flexiblematerial which target is adapted to be inflated by ram air forcedthereinto when dropped through the earth''s atmosphere comprising: acontainer of elongate overall shape formed of a plurality of breakawayparts having interfitting edges; a weighted airscoop positioned at theaft end of said container with an opening leading into the interior ofsaid target; and means for orienting the major axis of the containeralong the path of the container trajectory with the weighted airscoopdirected forwardly when the container is dropped from a moving body; sothat said container breaks up during its fall to free said target inorder that it may become fully inflated before impact.
 2. The device ofclaim 1 wherein the container comprises a nose section, a central bodysection and a tail section, said sections being interfitted together andforced off during the disassembly.
 3. The device of claim 1 wherein theairscoop is provided with airflow control means.
 4. The device of claim3 wherein the airflow control means automatically responds to ram airpressure so as to prevent air ingress during periods of high ram airpressure and to permit air ingress during periods of low ram airpressure.
 5. The device of claim 4 wherein the airflow control means ifadjustable to vary the point at which air ingress is permitted.
 6. Themethod of erecting a collapsible target at a remote site comprising thesteps of: collapsing said target into a small bundle; encapsulating saidbundle within a breakaway container, said container having a weightedairscoop positioned at the aft end thereof with an opening leading intothe interior of said target; transporting said container to a positionabove said site; releasing said container on a trajectory path directedtoward said site, whereupon the container will become oriented with theairscoop directed forwardly; decelerating said container to its normalterminal velocity at free fall; and decapsulated said collapsed targetwhen such normal terminal velocity is reached, so that the collapsedtarget may fully expand to its normal shape before impact at the targetsite.